Franklin expected to be named Penn State's next coach

James Franklin is expected to be named the next football coach at Penn State today.

MIKE KUHNS

James Franklin is expected to be named the next football coach at Penn State today.

The university released a statement via email Friday afternoon that said it would have a "major announcement" today at 4:15 p.m.

An email to the university asking if Penn State was confirming Franklin's appointment was not returned.

Several sources with ESPN reported that Franklin, an East Stroudsburg University graduate where he was a quarterback from 1991-94, will be hired. He's expected to make $4.5 million per year. It would make him the Big Ten's second-highest paid coach behind Ohio State's Urban Meyer.

Bill O'Brien, who left Penn State to coach the NFL's Houston Texans, made $3.82 million last year. Franklin made about $3 million last year at Vanderbilt.

Sources also told ESPN that Penn State held a meeting this morning with its compensation committee to approve Franklin's salary.

Denny Douds, who coached Franklin while at ESU, said the coach's first job will be to "sell the mission statement and philosophy to the kids first."

"While doing this, you have to be yourself, and James has that down pretty good," Douds said earlier this week. "Now you have to sell the mission statement and philosophy to the Penn State nation, which includes alums, faculty, students, friends of, donors, sponsors. I would venture to say he'll give 1,000 speeches before the season starts."

Franklin spent the last three years at Vanderbilt where he went 24-15 and took the Commodores to three bowl games, winning twice. For the first time ever this year, Vanderbilt defeated Georgia, Florida and Tennessee in the same season.

Vanderbilt also beat Tennessee for the first time ever in back-to-back seasons.

Franklin, who will turn 42 on Feb. 2, became one of the nation's top young coaches when his success recruiting was publicized while an assistant at Maryland. Vanderbilt gave him a shot at his first head coaching job three years ago, and Franklin led the Commodores to a 6-7 record. In 2012, Vanderbilt went 9-4 and won the Music City Bowl.

This year Franklin once again led Vandy to a 9-4 record, winning the BBVA Compass Bowl 41-24 over Houston.

"Seeing somebody you've touched have an opportunity is a tremendous thing," said Mike Terwilliger, Franklin's position coach while at ESU. "We're real proud of him of what he's done and what he's looking to do."